<p>Lately, I have been contributing a lot of thought to my major in college, and economics and accounting are the two I am most interested in at the moment. The only problem is that accounting isn't offered at most of the top tier colleges (UChicago, Columbia, Harvard ect.). Although economics is offered at all of these schools, I have heard that it's difficult to get a (well paying) job with a major in economics. On the other hand, I have also heard that graduating from one of these schools gives you an edge in terms of this major. Which one of these is true? Would it be better for me to go to a less prestigious school and major in accounting, or to a school like UChicago and major in economics?</p>
<p>You’re question is should you deliberately go to a lower ranked school to major in accounting? Really?</p>
<p>Not really. The thing I’m trying to figure out is how difficult it is to get a job with a major in economics? I’ve heard a lot of people say that it’s difficult while some people say it’s pretty easy.</p>
<p>That is sort of my dilemma. I can’t decide whether I want to double major in economics and math, or major in finance. I would rather do the economics/math and get a MBA later. But, my school’s business school has amazing recruiting and I worry that by choosing eco & math over business, I’m sacrificing a good opportunity at a job and might not get hired out of school, or might not get a good enough job to get into a good MBA program.</p>
<p>You know, not to start a fight or anything, but plscatamaccia, it seems like every single post i click on to read, you’re on it putting someone down for their question or giving some sort of smart ass response and attitude. We’ve all joined this site to either ask questions or help others with their questions. Instead of saying “You’re question is should you deliberately go to a lower ranked school to major in accounting? Really?” why not say “i would suggest going to the higher ranked school and choosing economics unless you really love accounting.” Don’t just say “you’re stupid and wrong” explain why you think his suggestion is not the best choice. We’re hear to ask questions and learn, so if you really think you’re so much more high and mighty than everyone else keep it to yourself.</p>
<p>Some of the Big 4 accounting firm sr. partners are making Millions per year were graduated from NO Ranking schools, why ranking is THAT important now. You guys are deeply poisoned by the USNEWS propaganda. Oh, once you got in HPY you will have be gold cloaked and instantly became the rich and famous? Let me tell you, there are PLENTY kids excel without going to HPY and there are plenty of kids flunk out of HPY, you just hope you are not the later.</p>
<p>First of all, if OP is good enough to go to HPY and study economics, go ahead, get in first then think of enrollment, even you are enrolled, keep up the grades and then talk about getting a good job. You just do not put horse before the carriage.</p>
<p>Secondly, it is as prestiges if you go to the top Accounting school as HPY in the Accounting Field. So what, if it is not Ivies? Like I said, you will have a chance to prove yourself when you attain the sr. partner status in Big 4 wherever you go, however you do it. But you must do it one step at a time.</p>
<p>Domrom1…</p>
<p>Waaaaaahhhhhh</p>
<p>There is a reason elite schools do not offer accounting, and let me be very clear about what it is. Accounting is NOT a suitable profession for people with superior levels of intelligence.</p>
<p>Only you can make an honest assessment of your skills. Do you have very high aptitude in analysis, math, logic, or leadership? If so you will be severely underutilizing your talent as an accounting major and as a future accountant. </p>
<p>Forget the pay, the question you need to ask is IF you have the ability and really belong in a school like Chicago, will you be satisfied surrounded with mediocre talent doing routine and unchallenging work in accounting?</p>
<p>^^Are you a business major?</p>
<p>If not, why are you here?</p>
<p>Ask any CEO what his most indispensable asset is. More than likely he will say his accountant.</p>
<p>There are indeed mindless number crunching accountants, but the good ones are very intelligent. </p>
<p>Not an accounting major by the way.</p>
<p>The top schools don’t have accounting because they want to offer more well-rounded educations, which a BA and BS offers. BBAs generally offer fewer electives and are looked at as a narrow degree. This doesn’t mean there is anything wrong with the degree. If you want to be an accountant go for it, there are many schools that have strong programs with smart kids in it.</p>
<p>I’m a CPA and used to work for the Big 4.</p>
<p>Who structures and optimizes the financial performance of the firm? Finance. Not accounting. Who plans tax strategies and ensures legal compliance? A lawyer. Not an accountant. What does accounting do? Records and checks financial transactions. That. is. it.</p>
<p>Does it require hard work and a wide knowledge base? Yes. Intelligence? No, not really.</p>
<p>You realize a vast majority of CFOs are CPAs, yes?</p>
<p>You’re describing grunt work of the lowest levels. Not suprising to hear this opinion of a big 4 alumni. Since you guys slave away 60+ hours working on the lowest levels of accounting work. I mean as a CPA how do you think that’s all that accountants do?</p>
<p>A CFO is a manager with a financial background, not an accountant. They might have been an accountant before, but that is no longer at all an accurate description of their job.</p>
<p>So you can get a good job through accounting. So? You still had to be an accountant. And that is what I am warning about. It is a long time of monotony before the reward.</p>
<p>You’re just voicing your opinions as facts. And you’re also making all kinds of generalizations. So have fun doing that.</p>
<p>Lawyers do plenty of grunt work before they end up structuring those tax strategies. Doc review is not exactly something law schools like to advertise as a fun reward at the end of three years of building debt and studying a lot. I don’t think entry level “Financial Analyst” types have tons of fun work to do either. </p>
<p>TINSTAAFL</p>
<p>Wharton offers a Bachelors of Science in Economics with concentrations in accounting/finance. For (business) jobs out of undergrad there is no better undergrad than Wharton.</p>
<p>Thanks for the comments guys (:
I’m pretty confident I can get into and enjoy a school like UChicago, and I was only worried about whether or not I would have decent job opportunities if I were to graduate with a degree in economics from there. If no, then I would have studied accounting or something similar at another school where job opportunities are higher.</p>
<p>A degree from uChicago is VERY marketable. Don’t worry about that.</p>
<p>Accounting at it’s “highest level” is probably similar to law in that you are making important decisions to help run and sustain businesses. This is in theory because most of accounting seems to be very boring ,monotonous and thankless grunt work.I worked in accounting many years ago but still remember how shocked I was at the turnover in many firms and the number of accountants who had health issues(stroke,heart attacks, stress related disorders)If you see life purely in terms of consistency of income(many jobs and businesses are cyclical or seasonal)accounting may be more regular than most .However most of the accountants hate their jobs and quality of life (when everything in accounting seems so adversarial) is debatable.If you can find another way to make a living I suggest you do so.</p>